Article of clothing convertible to a handbag

ABSTRACT

A multi-functional garment is provided by a simple basic fabric construction capable of quick conversion into a hood and cape combination, an apron, or a handbag.

United States Patent [191 Nakanishi 11] 3,818,158 [451 June 18,1974

[5 ARTICLE OF CLOTHING CONVERTIBLE TO A HANDBAG [76] Inventor: Tadayoshi Nakanishi, 225 Kearny St., Room 407, San Francisco, Calif. 94108 22 Filed: Dec. 18, 1972 21' App1.No.:314,992

[52] US. Cl 2/48, 2/84, 2/88, 2/202, 2/209.1, 2/243 R [51] Int. Cl A4ld 15/04 [58] Field of Search 2/48, 52, 84, 88, 202, 2/203, 204, 209.1, 196, 93, 243 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,313,458 3/1943 Tucker 2/84 Jackson 2/84 2,629,101 2/1953 Greenwald 2/204 X 2,708,273 5/1955 Bonaventura 2/48 X 2,971,198 2/1961 Tomich 2/84 Rush 2/196 X Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent,'0r FirmPhillips, Moore, Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala 57] ABSTRACT .A multi-functional garment is provided by a simple basic fabric construction capable of quick conversion into a hood and cape combination, an apron, or a handbag.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to clothing, and pertains more particularly to an article that is convertible to one or more articles of clothing or to a handbag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the invention to provide an article of simple fabric construction that is convertible into multiple wearing or carrying uses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article that is constructed for the efficient and simple conversion into a handbag, hood and cape combination or apron.

In accordance with the primary-aspect of the present invention an article is provided that is readily convertible into any one of a cape and hood, an apron, and a handbag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the basic article of construction of the invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the invention in the handbag mode carriedby a model;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a partially formed handbag;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handbag completed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the article formed into the cape and hood combination;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the hood and cape combination on a model;

FIG. 7 is a frontal view of the hood and cape combination on the model;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the article formed into an apron; and

FIG. 9 is a frontal view of the article' in the apron mode shown on a model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the basic article of construction incorporating the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The article, generally designated by the numeral 10, comprises a plurality of adjoining connected panels ll, 12, 13, of flexible sheet material such as a suitable fabric, preferably of water repellant material, arranged in a generally rectangular configuration and separated by a sleeve or tube 14 provided with a suitable draw cord or the like 15. A loop 16 and rings 17 receive the ends of draw cord 15'. 1

Panel, 11 is generally operative to define a bag, a

hood, or an apron when properly shaped and fastened as described below. The adjacent overlapping panels 12 and 13 generally define a cape when used in conjunction with the hood configuration or folds away to become a liner when used in conjunction with the bag or apron configuration.

Panel 11 is provided with suitable fastening means, such as a zipper 18, with each half 18, 18" beginning at the center thereof and extending along the bottom and opposing side-edges. The zipper allows a bag. or pouch to be fashioned from the article when the panel is folded along a line extending vertically in the center, and the sides secured together by closing the zipper 18 along the bottom and side edges as seen in FIG. 4. The 7 ends of cord 15 are received-in rings 17 to form a carrying strap as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. In this configuration, panels 12 and 13 are folded and secured to the inner face of panel 11 as shown in FIG. 3. For this purpose, panels 12 and 13 are provided with four releasable fastening means 19, 20, 21, 22 located on what may be considered the inner face of panels 12 and 13, allow the panels to be folded downwardly on. the inner face of panel 11 and secured to same by four reciprocal or complementary fastening means 19, 20, 21, 22. F astening means 23, 23' respectively on flap l2a-of panel 12 and similar fastening means (not shown) on flap 13 of panel 13 permit these flaps to be folded and secured to the face of the respective panels. These fastening means may be of any suitable type but are preferably of the type sold under the trademark Velcro.

FIGS; 5, 6', 7 illustrate a second or alternate configurationfor the basic article .of FIG. 1. As illustrated, a combination cape and hood are fashioned when starting from theFIG. l arrangement by folding panel 11 vertically at the center and securing the'zipper 18 along the bottom edge only (top as seen in FIG. 5). In this mode thefasteners securing the overlapping extensions of panels 12 and 13 are released and the panel s'swing free to operatively function as a cape. The draw cord 15 permits the cape to be gathered to any desired degree of fullness relative to the hood as seen in FIGS. 5, 6, 7.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a third configuration for the basic article of FIG. 1. As illustrated, an apron is fashioned from panel 11 by releasing the zipper 18 completely and allowing it to define the lower edge of the apron skirt. Panels 12 and 13, arranged and secured in the same manner previously described and shown in FIG. 3 essentially define an apron liner. The draw cord 15 functions as apron ties and allows the apron'to be' the cape and hood configuration, FIGS. 6 and 7.

From the above description, it is seen that there is provided an article of suitable fabric material that is constructed and arranged to be readily convertible into articles of clothing and into a handbag.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a single embodiment it is to be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-functional article comprising:

first panel means including releasable fastening means operative to define a hood in a first configuration and a bag in a second configuration;

said first panel means being bisected by a fold line defined at one end by said fastening means, which comprise a zipper secured to three sides of said panel; second panel means connected to a fourth side of said first panel and separated therefrom by a draw cord extending through a sleeve and operative to define a cape in conjunction with said hood; said second panel means having substantially the same length from said draw cord as said first panel and includes overlapping portions at the center thereof expandable to define a cape; and,

a sleeve separating said first and second panel means and said draw cords extends through said sleeve.

2. A multi-functional article comprising:

first panel means including releasable fastening means operative to define a hood in a first configuration and a bag in a second configuration;

said first panel means being bisected by a fold line defined at one end by said fastening means, which comprise a zipper secured to three sides of said panel;

second panel means connected to a fourth side of said first panel and separated therefrom by a sleeve and a draw cord extending through said sleeve; second panel means includes overlapping portions at the center thereof expandable to define said cape; and,

releasable fastening means to releasably secure said second panel means to the inner face of said first panel means when said article is in the bag configuration.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said second panel means comprises a pair of separate panels; and,

said overlapping portions comprise flaps extending from the median side of each of said separate panels. 4. The article of claim 3 comprising pocket means secured to the outer face of said first panel means.

5. The article of claim 3 operative in a configuration intermediate said hood configuration and said bag configuration to define an apron.

6. A method of forming a multi-functional article of clothing comprising the steps of:

providing a first panel of garment material; providing elongated fastening means extending along an intermediate and two adjacent edges of said first panel so that said panel means is operative to define a hood in a first configuration and a bag in a second configuration; providing second panel means secured to an edge of said first panel means on the opposite side thereof from said intermediate edge with overlapping portions so that said panel means is expandable to define a cape in conjunction with said hood;

providing a draw cord at the juncture of said first and said second panel means; and

providing the inner faces of said first panel means and said second panel means with fastening means so that said second panel means may be secured to the inner face of said first panel means when said first panel means is formed into a bag. 

1. A multi-functional article comprising: first panel means including releasable fastening means operative to define a hood in a first configuration and a bag in a second configuration; said first panel means being bisected by a fold line defined at one end by said fastening means, which comprise a zipper secured to three sides of said panel; second panel means connected to a fourth side of said first panel and separated therefrom by a draw cord extending through a sleeve and operative to define a cape in conjunction with said hood; said second panel means having substantially the same length from said draw cord as said first panel and includes overlapping portions at the center thereof expandable to define a cape; and, a sleeve separating said first and second panel means and said draw cords extends through said sleeve.
 2. A multi-functional article comprising: first panel means including releasable fastening means operative to define a hood in a first configuration and a bag in a second configuration; said first panel means being bisected by a fold line defined at one end by said fastening means, which comprise a zipper secured to three sides of said panel; second panel means connected to a fourth side of said first panel and separated therefrom by a sleeve and a draw cord extending through said sleeve; second panel means includes overlapping portions at the center thereof expandable to define said cape; and, releasable fastening means to releasably secure said second panel means to the inner face of said first panel means when said article is in the bag configuration.
 3. The article of claim 2 wherein said second panel means comprises a pair of separate panels; and, said overlapping portions comprise flaps extending from the median side of each of said separate panels.
 4. The article of claim 3 comprising pocket means secured to the outer face of said first panel means.
 5. The article of claim 3 operative in a configuration intermediate said hood configuration and said bag configuration to define an apron.
 6. A method of forming a multi-functional article of clothing comprising the steps of: providing a first panel of garment material; providing elongated fastening means extending along an intermediate and two adjacent edges of said first panel so that said panel means is operative to define a hood in a first configuration and a bag in a second configuration; providing second panel means secured to an edge of said first panel means on the opposite side thereof from said intermediate edge with overlapping portions so that said panel means is expandable to define a cape in conjunction with said hood; providing a draw cord at the juncture of said first and said second panel means; and providing the inner faces of said first panel means and said second panel means with fastening means so that said second panel means may be secured to the inner face of said first panel means when said first panel means is formed into a bag. 